Crate for milk bottles and the like



Feb. 28, 1939. H, A, KEINER ET AL CRATE FOR MILK BOTTLES AND THE LIKE /aY m v forfzg.

Filed June'g, 1956 YPatented Feb. 28, 1939 Vela-*ifiENT OFFICE i CRATE FORVM'ILK BOTTLES AND T HE LIKE Henry A. Keiner, deceased,vlate of Richmond Hill,

N. Y., by Harry C. Keiner and Viola Keiner, executors, Richmond Hill, N. Y., and Robert Stoddard, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Milk Bottle Crate Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of y Illinois, and Keiner Williams Stamping Co.,

Richmond Hill, `N. Y.

York

," aiv corporation of New Application June 9, 1936, sen-a1 No. 84,306

15 Claims. (c1. ari-'69) f lThisapplication is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 16,312, led April 15, 1935. @This inventionv relates to crates for milkr bottles "and the like and the primary object is to improve 5 itheconstruction of 'such crates. f

Crates having the walls thereof formed from a plurality of spaced apart slats have been so cony structed heretofore that it has been quite diii cult to replace broken slats because of the manner l 1in rwhich the slats were secured, and another important 'object of the invention is to facilitate @the replacement of a broken slat and to enable "this to be accomplished quickly and economically.

i -1 A furtherv'object is to veilectively reenforce the ..15corn'ers of a crate and an ancillary object is to utilize corner reenforcements tospace the slats lapart.r a

' Still further objects are to insure rigid support for the lowermost'slats of the Walls of the crate 2Ofand thereby increase'therigidity of the crate; to

'reenforce' the Walls ofv the crate intermediate `the top-and; bottom edges thereof; to effectively proftet 'the corners of the crate at the ends of the f uppermost and f lowermost slats thereof; and to @provide a'crate `of simple and economical con- 'struction which will Aeiiectively withstand severe 'usage f c f Selected embodiments ofthe invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein- 'l Fig. 1 isL a perspective view of a crate embody- :ing one-form of the invention; y

Fig .12h'isa vertical sectional View taken substantially'onf the line 2;-1-2 on Fig. 1; e

Figs.V 3,"4 an'd 5 are horizontal sectional views 35"'taken'=res`pectively on the lines 3%3, 4;-4Iand f- Fig; 6"is`vavview, similar -to Fig. 2, showing a Jrno'difled' form of construction;V

` isA a perspective view of kone corner of a 40 crate embodying still another form of the invention;

Fi'gj is a view, similar toFigs. 2'and 6, of the forni of the invention shown in Fig. 7;

i '.Fig. 9 isa horizontal sectional view' taken substantially onl the ylined-9 on Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is aL fragmentary vertical sectional View g illustrating a further modified construction for the'bottomf ofthe crate; f

z 11 isa perspective view of 'a modified form v15,10ofzseparator.employed in the invention;` and* Fig. 12y is a horizontalfsectional detail view. The crate as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

.includes end walls I6 and I1 and side walls I8 and I9. Each of these walls is made up of a plurality of slats. The uppermost slat I6a, of the end wall IB has a medially located recess in -the lower edge thereof and the next lowermost slat IBb hasa medially located recess 2| in the upper edge thereof. rThe recesses 20 and 2| cooperate to provide ahandhole 23, a similar hand-A .hole 24 being provided in the end wall I1.

The side walls I8 and I9 extend between the end portions of the end Walls I6 and I1 and the ends of the walls at each corner of the crate are iirmly interconnected to prevent separation, and these cornersare protected to prevent damage thereto and reenforcements are provided at these corners to increase the rigidity of the crate. The slats comprising the various walls are spaced apart :for purposes well understood in the art. The means for spacing the slats apart have been combined with means for reenforcing the corners. Io` this end combined separating and reenforcing "members 25, shown in plan in Fig. 4 and in side elevation in Fig. 2, include right angularly ex- "tending limbs 2lik and 21.' 'Embossures 28 and 29 "are provided near the ends of the limbs 26 and 21 to appear in relief' on the top sides of the members 25. Openings 30 and 3I are respectively provided in the embossures 28 and 29.

The corner member 32 is provided at each corner of the crate and each 'corner member comlprises right angularly extending parts 33 and 34 ywhich are respectively engaged with the outer `faces ofthe end'and side walls. Each of the lowermostslats of the side Walls, as, for' example, -the slat I8e of the side Wall I8, has a recess 35 in the lower edge at each end thereof. The part '34 of each corner member Vincludes an extension which, inthe case of the side wall I8, is folded into the recess 35 adjacent the corner member f as indicated at 36 (Fig. 2). The extension is then -folded up over 'the inner face of the lowermost slat I8e of the side wall, as indicated at 36a., and then yacross the top edge of this slat to terminate in A spaced relation with the outer face of the slat, as :indicated at 36h. An opening 31 is provided in ythe section 36h in alignment with a bore 38 ex- -tended partially through the slat I8e from the `upper edge thereof.

Each end wall includes a shoe piece 39, to be described more fully hereinafter, at the lower end thereof, and each shoe piece has a recess 4D in. the lower edge at each end thereof. The part 33 of each corner member 32 includes an extension like the extension 3B which is arranged in the adjacent recess 40, and this extension also includes sections which extend over the inner face of the shoe piece and the inner face of the lowermost slat of the end wall. Another section of the extension extends across the top of this lowermost slat of the end wall and is arranged simi- `larly to the section 36D.

The uppermost slat of each wall is recessed on its outer face near the ends thereof, as indicated at 4l, and the upper ends of the parts 33 and 34 of the corner members are inset as is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the upper section 34 of the part 34 is inset to be disposed in the recess 4I in the outer face of the slat I8a. The upper sections of these parts are so inset to permit the limbs of corner caps to be extended thereover in alignment with the main extent of the parts 33 and 34. This is also illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein a depending limb 42 on the corner cap, generally indicated by 43, is aligned with the main extent of the part 34. The corner cap 43 includes a depending limb 44 which depends over the inner face of the slat I8a and it also includes other depending limbs which embrace the upper slat Ia of the end wall I6 in the same way in which the limbs 42 and 44 embrace the slat Isa. The opposite depending limbs are connected together and to the slats embraced therebetween by rivets such as 45. The slats of each of the Walls intermediate the top and bottom slats have a bore 'therein near each end thereof, such bores being indicated by 46 in Fig. 2, and pins 41 are passed through these bores to secure the slats in position. The pins 41 are of a length about equalto the height of the slats of the Walls, which slats are of uniform height.

i In assembling a wall, for example, the wall 18, the bottom slat I8e is inserted into the area enclosed by the lower end of the part 34 and the sections 39, 36a and 39h of the extension of said part 34. The bore 39 that extends about halfway through slat I8e is aligned with the opening 31 in the section 36h. Then a pin 41 is passed through the opening 31 into the bore 38. Since the bore 33 preferably extends only halfway through the section Ie a pin 41 so installed projects above the section 36h. Then one of the `combined separating and reenforcing members 25 is arranged in position by passingl the pin 41 through the opening 39 in the embossure 28. Then the bore 46 at the proper end of the `slat i3d is passed over the installed pin 41 which then l extends about halfway through this bore 46.

Thus when a second pin 41 is inserted into the bore 49 it will engage the top of the first pin and will extend above the top edge of the slat Id. Then another combined separating and reenforcing member 25 is positioned above the slat i907. by passing the second pin 41 through. the opening 39 in the embossure 28 of this member. The slats Itlc and Ib are mounted in position in the same manner as the slat I8d and then the slat Ia is mounted over the slat I8b. The lower edge of the slat I8a rests on the top of the embossure 28 of the combined separating and reenforcing member 25V at the top of the slat I8b, and the uppermost pin 41 projects into the bore 49 that extendsabout halfway through the slat Ita. The above described procedureis also carried out at the opposite end of the Wall I8` Which is therefore completed when the slat IBa is in position.

Then the end Wall I6 is built up in a similar manner starting with the lower slat I6e to which a shoe piece 39 will have been joined as Will be described. The combined shoe piece and slat IBe are handled in the same manner as the slat I8e. When the'slat Ia is in position the Wall I6 will have been built up.

Next the corner member 43 is installed at the top of the corner between the walls I8 and I6 with the depending parts thereof positioned as described. Rivets 45 are passed through the depending parts of the corner member 43,parts 33 and 34, and the uppermost slats and fasten these parts together. These rivets extend across the upper ends of the uppermost pins 41 and prevent displacement of the pins. Thus the end and side walls are securely connected at each -corner since the above procedure is carried out at each corner of the crate.

The lowermost slats I6e and I1e of the end walls I6 and I1 are of less height than the other slats in the end and side walls but when the shoe pieces 39 are added to the slats I6e and I1e the aggregate height of these slats and shoe pieces is equal to the height of the other slats. The shoe pieces 99 are joined to the slats I6e and I1e by nailing or in other suitable manner, and the 1ocation of the nails will be described more fully hereinafter. j

As best shown in Fig. l2, the shoe pieces 39 are routed in their upper surfaces near the outer edges thereof to provide grooves 48. A plurality of rods. 49 are provided and these rods are arranged in pairs to provide bottle supports at the bottom of the crate. Each of these rods has a right angularly extending foot portion 50 at each end and these foot portions 50 are mounted in the grooves 48. As illustrated in Fig. 10, grooves 5I are formed in the top surface of the shoe pieces 39 which extend from the grooves 48to the inner sides of the shoe pieces 39. The grooves 5I are arranged in pairs across the crate so that when rods 49 are rested therein a pair of rods will extend below each of the bottle receiving Spaces dened by suitable dividing rails R provided in the crate between the top and bottom: edges thereof, as is Well understood in the art. The nails which interconnect the' shoe pieces 39 and the bottom slats I6e and I1e preferably pass through the shoe pieces adjacent the grooves 5I so as to pass through the rightangle defined by the foot portions 59 and the main extent of the rods 49. Nails so located are indicated by 52' and' it is these nails that secure the shoe pieces to the lower slats. In the illustrated form of the invention the foot portions 50VY are rested in the grooves 48 to. extend toward each other but it is to be understood that the foot portions could be arranged to extend in opposite directions Without departing from the purview of the invention.

The combined separating and reenforcing members 25 of the form shown in Fig. 4 do not provide ledges or platforms on which ice maybe supported at the corners of the crate and do not include bottle engaging anges which will retain the bottlesin the corner bottle receiving spaces against movement. Therefore a combined separating and reenforcing member such as that illustrated in Fig. l1 may be provided for ment. g v

-Y'In the-'invention as thus far described, the slats of the various walls have been secured in )9,149,243 vsures l28 and 29' but'M instead ofincluding right angularly extendinglimbs the member is f'formed from-'a substantially square sheetvof ma- "terialwhich is bent downwardly diagonally op- Apfosite-the outermost corner thereof to provide The space interthe corner bottle receiving spaces against move- 4position by passing short pins 41 through bores fextending through the slats at opposite ends 39 is illustrated and herein the 'lower end and thereof. When one of such slats is broken the jrivets passing through the uppermost slat in kthe wall in which the broken slat is contained aefremovedi'as well 'as' the other rivets passingv through the corner caps 43 through which these v'first named rivets pass. ,j then removed after which the slats-may be lifted Afrom position, and when the broken slat is reached The corner caps 43 are it is removed'and replaced and the wall is reassembled as described. f

' In-Fig. 6 amodiiied form of construction for lthe interconnection of the slats ofthe walls is the corner members 32 and the slats 58e and lie are mounted in position in-the manner described. However, instead of employing a plurality of short pins 41 a long pin 41 is provided. Further- 'more, the bores in the uppermost slats extend entirely through these slats as indicated at #16" "and the long ,pins 41 extend through these bores 46 beyond the-tops of the slats limv and lea as illustrated in Fig. 6. Also, the upper end of thevpart 34" vof the corner member 32 is bent v'inwardly' as indicated at 34a to pass across the topfof ythe slat I8a and this part is then bent downwardly as indicated at 35a to extend over lthe inner face of the upper lslat la and the pin 4.1"'passes through an opening in the part 34a. L To prevent displacement of the upperv end ofthe-pinll'lr it is peened over.

It will also be noted that the pin-4l. extends through a bore 3B'th'at extends entirely through the lowermost nslat'le.A 'The lower end of the pin M' extends through an opening in' the'sectioh'i' andr this end of the pin 41 is alsopeened over. Rivets lare, passed throughtheparts 34 and 35a and lthe uppermost rail I8@ to secure this rail lin posiftio'ni The part of the corner member 32 corresponding to the part 33 of the corner member 32 is arranged similarly to .the part 3d or' the cor- !.nermember 32 to embrace the upper edge of thesIat'l-'Im When a broken slat is to be replacedin la construction employing the pins li'l' the peened parts atl corresponding ends of the required pins 41 are straightened to permit re- :moval of these'pins whereupon the parts such as rtheparts 31h35v and 35a, are straightened to permit the removal of the slats down to the broken slat. f

In Fig. 10a modied form-for the shoe piece partsv ofthe inner andouter faces of the shoe piece 39 are embraced by a metallic strip 'll r,which'is retained yin-positionbynnails 'l2 or the .lilgea 5 Moreover, a metallic strip 13V embraces the and bottom edge and lower parts of the inner and outer faces ofthe bottom slab I9e of the side wall shown herein. This strip 13 is retained in position-by nails 14 or the like. Thus, Fig. 10 shows how the bottom edges of the crate may be effectively' protected against damage.

'The form of the invention shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 does not employ pins such as 47 and 41' and` meansfor spacing the slats one from the other are provided on the corner reenforcing members as 32x. The upper slats I Sw and l8w of the side walls I6 and I8 of the crate in this form of the invention are recessed at 4in: similarly to the manner in which the slats Ia and |8a are recessed. The upper part of the right angularly extending portion 34x of the corner reenforcing member 32m is bent inwardly to fit into this recess, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8, so that the limbs as 42x of a corner cap 43x, which parts are similar to the parts 43 and 42 of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, may be tted over the inset upper parts of the part 34:1: where the parts 32x and 34m lie in substantially the same plane.

In order to insure separation of slats as |8111 l8r and |6111 and |632 from each other tongues 80 are struck from the parts as 345e to extend inwardly from the parts as 34x at right angles thereto, and these tongues have grooves 8l embossed therein to increase the thickness of the tongues 8B. The tongues 8!! are struck from the parts as 34a; at those places where a space between slats as Iw and l8r is to be provided.

As best shown in Fig. 9, the outer faces of the slats 58x. |831, la: and l'y are grooved, as indicated at 32, and lips are formed at the outer free edges of the parts as 34o: and are extended into these grooves. Grooves as 82 are provided in alignment with the grooves 82 to extend from the lower edges of slats as lw to the recesses as Mx and grooves as 82a are formed in the lower slats as 82 in alignment with the grooves 82. However, as best shown in Fig. '7, the lips 83 do not extend to the bottom of the parts as 34m.

The lips as 83a: terminate in spaced relation with the lower edges of slats as |82 and substantially U-shaped strips 84 are iitted over the lower edges 4ot the slats as 82 and the lips 83 terminate in spaced relation with the upper edges of these strips 84. These strips 84 protect the lower edges of the lowermost slats against damage.

f In assembling a crate employing corner reen- /forcing members as 32a', one end of a slat as iBy is slipped between two spaced tongues 80 so that the lower edge of the slat rests on the at portion of the lower of the two tongues on each side of the groove t! therein and so that the upper edge of the slat engages the outwardly disposed face of the embossed groove in the uppermost of the two tongues. This Slat as iy is abutted with the part as as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and then a slat as i 3y is tted in between the two aligned tongues 36 on the other part or leg of the reenforcing member 32 and the end of this Slat as Iy is fitted into a rabbeted groove 98 at the adjacent end of the slat as i611, which groove is provided on the inner faceof this slat. The lips 83 are tted in the grooves 82 of the slats as i611/ and lSy whereby 4uppermost ytongues 80 and the lowermost slats having the strips 84 mounted thereon are engaged with the undersides vof the lowermost tongues as 80. Rivets as 45a are then passed through the parts as 3ds: and the limbs of strips as 84 as well as through the lowermost slats as lz in the manner shown in Fig. 8 whereby the lowermost slats including the strips 84 are firmly secured in position. The corner caps as 83:1: are disposed in position and rivets as lh are secured in position in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 whereupon the uppermost slats are secured in position. When the rivets 5a and 45h are secured the slats corner reenforcing member strips as 84 and corner caps as 43:12 are tightly fastened together. Upon breakage of a slat one or the other of the rivets 45a or 45h are removed, depending upon which is closest to the broken slat, and the slats up to the broken slat are removed whereupon the broken slat is removed and replaced and the parts are again assembled.

The crate of this invention vhas the corners thereof eifectively protected against damage and after one of the slats is broken in the use of the crate as happens frequently this slat may be replaced easily. In the forms of the invention employing pins, the pins in part interconnect the slats and impart rigidity to the crate and the loose mounting of the slats on the pins facilitates repair and replacement without lessening this rigidity. In the form of the invention wherein pins are not employed it is only necessary to remove the rivets in order to enable replacement of a broken slat.

Uniform spacing of the slats is insured by this invention and where the spacing means are provided on separate parts these separate parts impart rigidity to the crate. Moreover, the manner oi mounting the bottle supporting rods in the crate is simple and can be accomplished at low cost and enables the rods to be firmly held against displacement.

Selected embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described but it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modi'cation and therefore the invention is not to be limited to the precise details set forth but is to be understood as including such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a crate comprising a wall consisting of a plurality of slats, the uppermost and the lowery most of the slats in said wall having bores extending only part way therethrough at each end thereof, the other of said slats having bores extending entirely therethrough at each end thereof, and a plurality of pins removably mounted in said bores and interconnecting the slats.

2. In a crate comprising a wall consisting of a plurality of slats, the uppermost and the lowermost of the slats in said wall having bores extending only part way therethrough at each end thereof, the other of said slats having bores extending entirely therethrough at each end4 thereof, a plurality of pins removably mounted in said bores and interconnecting the slats, and means for preventing displacement of said slats from said pins.

3. In a crate comprising a wall consisting of a plurality of slats of substantially equal height, the uppermost and the lowermost of the slats in said wall having bores extending only part way therethrough at each end thereof, the other of said slats having bores extending entirely therethrough at each end thereof, a plurality of pins of a length substantially equal to the height of said slats and removably mounted in said bores to extend into the bores in at least two of said slats .to thereby interconnect said slats, and means for preventing displacement of said slats from said pins.

4. In a crate comprising walls consisting of a plurality of slats of substantially equal height, the slats in one wall having corresponding ends thereof abutting the end portions of the slats in the adjacent wall at each corner of. the crate, and plates disposed between the end portions of abutting slats at each corner of the crate to reenforce the corners of the crate and space the adjacent slats in each wall one from the other, certain of said plates including parts extending between the end portions of adjacent walls to provide platforms for supporting ice or the like in said crate.

5. In a crate comprising walls consisting of a A plurality of slats of substantially equal height, the slats in one wall having corresponding ends thereof abutting the end portions of the slats in the adjacent wall at each corner of the crate, and plates disposed between the end portions of abutting slats at each corner of the crate to reenforce the corners of the crate and space the adjacent slats in each wall one from the other, certain of said plates having bottle engaging flanges formed thereon intermediate the end portions of adjacent walls.

6. A crate comprising a wall including a plurality of slats superimposed one upon the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, and a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in said wall, each of said pins extending across the joint between two adjacent ones of said slats and having portions projecting into the bores in the said two adjacent slats.

7. A crate comprising a wall including a plurality of slats superimposed one upon the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores being disposed in registration or alignement with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, and a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in said wall, each of said pins extending across the joint between two adjacent ones of said slats and having portions projecting into the bores in the said two adjacent slats, and means for preventing displacement of said slats from said pins including a removable fastening element extended transversely through the said wall adjacent the upper end thereof and bearing upon the upper end portion of the uppermost one of said pins.

8. A crate comprising a wall including a plurality of slats superimposed one upon the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, and a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in said wall, each of said pins extending across the joint between two adjacent ones of said slats and having portions projecting into the bores in the said two adjacent slats, the bores in the uppermost and lowermost ones of said slats extending only partially therethrough and the bores in the other and'intermediate ones of said slats extending entirely therethrough.

9. A crate comprising a wall including a plurality of slats superimposed one upon the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, and a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in said wall, each of said pins lextending across-'the joint between two adjacent ones of said slats andihaving portions projecting into the bores Ain the saidtwo adjacent slats, and means for preventing displacement of said slats from said pins including a removable fastening element extended transversely through the said wall adjacent the upper end thereof and bearing upon the upper end portion of the uppermost one of said pins, the bores in the uppermost and lowermost ones of said slats extending only partially therethrough and the bores in the other and intermediate ones of said slats extending entirely therethrough.

10. A crate comprising a wall including a plurality of slats superimposed one upon the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, a spacing member arranged between each two adjacent ones of said slats and having an opening therein, and a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in said wall, eachrof said pins extending across the joint between two adjacent ones of said slats and through the opening in the spacing member disposed therebetween and having portions projecting into the bores in the said two adjacent slats.

11. A ycrate comprising two intersecting walls each including a plurality of slats superimposed one above the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a. bore therein and the bores in the slats of each of said walls being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in each of said walls, spacing and reenforcing members arranged at the corner formed by the intersection of said walls, each of said spacing and reenforcing members having an apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats in one of said walls and having another apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats atthe same level in the other of said walls, each of said pins extending through one of said apertured portions of one of said spacing and reenforcing members and having portions projecting into the bores in the two adjacent slats between which the said spacing and reenforcing member is arranged.

12, A crate comprising two intersecting walls each including a plurality of slats superimposed one above the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the bores in the slats of each of said walls being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in each of said walls, spacing and reenforcing members arranged at the corner formed by the intersection of said walls, each of said spacing and reenforcing members having an apertured portion disposedbetween two adjacent slats in one of said walls and having another apertured portion disposed between two adjacentslats at the same level in the other of said walls, each of said pins extending through one of said apertured portions of one of said spacing and reenforcing members and having portions projecting into the bores in the two adjacent slats between which the said spacing and reenforcing ymember is arranged, the bores in the uppermost and lowermost of the slats in each of said walls extending only partially therethrough and the bores in the other and intermediate ones of said slats extending entirely therethrough.

13. A crate comprising two intersecting walls each includinga plurality of slats superimposed one above the other`when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the bores in the slats of each of said walls being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in each of said walls, spacing and reenforcing members arranged at the corner formed by the intersection of said walls, each of said spacing and reenforcing members having an apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats in one of said walls and having another apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats at the same level in the other of said walls, each of said pins extending through one of said apertured portions of one of said spacing and reenforcing members and having portions projecting into the bores in the two adjacent slats between which the said spacing and reenforcing member is arranged, and means for preventing displacement of the slats in each of said walls from the said pins therein including a removable fastening element extended transversely through each of said walls adjacent the top thereof and bearing upon the uppermost one of said pins therein.

14. A crate comprising two intersecting walls each including a plurality of slats superimposed one above the other when in assembled position, each of said slats having a bore therein and the bores in the slats of each of said walls being disposed in registration or alignment with each other when the said slats are in assembled position, a plurality of pins interconnecting the slats in each of said walls, spacing and reenforcing members arranged at the corner formed by the intersection of said walls, each of said spacing and reenforcing members having an apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats in one of said walls and having another apertured portion disposed between two adjacent slats at the same level in the other of said walls, each of said pins extending through one of said spacing and reenforcing members and having portions projecting into the bores in the two adjacent slats between which said spacing and reenforcing member is arranged, the bores in the uppermost and lowermost of the slats in each of said walls extending only partially therethrough and the bores in the other and intermediate ones of said slats extending entirely therethrough, and means for preventing displacement of the slats in each of said walls from the said pins therein including a removable fastening element extended transversely through each of said walls adjacent the top thereof and bearing upon the uppermost one of said pins therein.

15. A crate comprising two intersecting walls each including a plurality of slats, each of said slats having a bore therein and the said bores in the slats of each of said walls being disposed in alignment or registration with each other when the slats are in assembled position, separate spacing and reenforcing members arranged at the corner formed by the intersection of said walls, each of said spacing and reenforcing members having an apertured portion extending between two adjacent slats in one of said walls and having another apertured portion extending between two adjacent slats at the same level in the other of said walls, a plurality of pins each interlocking at least two adjacent slats in each ofV said walls, each of said pins having a. portion extending across the point between two adjacent slats in one of said walls and through an aper-V tured portion of a spacing and reenforcing member disposed therebetween and having portions 

